Wind River Pottery Artist Bios: A - H

Frederica Antonio

Frederica Antonio was born in 1968 on the Acoma Pueblo. Frederica developed an interest in pottery-making while observing her mother-in-law Mildred hand-coil and paint pottery. Frederica was inspired to continue the long-lived family tradition, and her mother-in-law started teaching her the fundamentals at age 18.

Frederica specializes in contemporary hand coiled pottery with hand painted, intricate designs. She fashions a brush from the stems of a yucca plant to paint her eye-catching designs. She often paints a band on the side of her pottery with kokopelli (god of fertility).

She also uses different colors of paint to create a unique, 3-D effect. She hand coils a variety of sizes and styles, and each one of her pots is a one of a kind work of art - no two pieces are alike. She signs her masterpieces as: F.V. Antonio, Acoma, N.M.

Melissa Antonio

Melissa Antonio hails from the Acoma Pueblo, where she was born in 1965. She sparked an interest in becoming an artisan by observing her mother, Lillie Concho, starting at age 12. Lillie taught Melissa the process of gathering clay, preparing the clay, and making natural colors from other natural pigments which were gathered from within the Acoma Pueblo.

By the age of 23, Melissa's skills had improved vastly and her art reflected her experience as a fine artisan. Melissa specializes in hand-coiling the traditional black-on-white eye dazzler patterns. Her pottery is all constructed by methods used by her ancestors. Occasionally, Melissa accents her pottery with kokopelli designs on the sides. She signs her pottery as: M.C. Antonio, Acoma.

Brenda Cerno

Hailing from the Acoma pueblo, Brenda took an interest in traditional Acoma pottery at age 15. With great patience, Brenda's grandmother started teaching her granddaughter this family craft. Her grandmother taught her to pray before working on each piece, and to be truthful, faithful, and happy while working on her pottery.

Brenda often works with polychrome jars, vases and bowls, both traditional and slip-cast in origin. Her work often features numerous animal images such as lizards, beetles and butterflies along with rich, precise traditional pueblo graphics. Her colors and white backdrop are always solid. Her work is always unique and high-quality. 

Monica Chino

Monica Chino was born in 1970 in Acoma, New Mexico. Her mother, Emmalita Chino, taught Margaret the art of pottery. She shared special techniques which Emmalita learned on her own by trial and error. Monica seriously began making pottery at the age of 20.

Monica specializes in handmade traditional pottery. She hand paints, without stencils or other means, intricate fine line patterns, some of which are borrowed from her mother. Continuing the family tradition of pottery-making is very important to her and it’s people like her that ensure its survival. Monica is related to: Marie Torivio (aunt), Loretta Garcia (aunt), and Rose Chino (aunt). Monica signs her pottery: M.C.

Chery Crespin

Chery Crespin is an accomplished artist from the Santo Domingo tribe. Chery was born in 1969 and was taught in her trade by her mother. She specializes in mosaic pottery that is inlaid using turquoise and various stones. She is known for creating intricate inlaid  small bowls, vases and wedding pots. 

Chery is one of the few artists today that has mastered both pottery making and intricate inlay work and her art is collected both nationally and internationally.

Paula Estevan

Paula Estevan was born in 1967, and she has been creating pottery art since approximately 1986. She is regarded for her light and thin-walled Acoma Pueblo Pottery.

Paula recognized with numerous awards, especially for the intricate and interesting painted designs on her pottery. Paula Estevan’s pottery is hand-coiled to near-perfect shape, and painted with beautiful designs of remarkable complexity. Her pieces can dazzle the eye and boggle the mind!

Felicia Fragua

Born in in 1964 in Jemez, Felicia Fragua began making pottery in the late 1970s. She was blessed with three instructors: Bonnie Fragua, Rose Fragua and Grace Fragua (her mother). Her favorite designs are mudheads, dogs and mice. Felicia chooses to work with traditional clay, coiling it by hand.

Fragua is known for her Storyteller designs, Nativity designs, Kewa pottery vessels and Animal Storyteller designs. In the early 1980s a collection of her Storyteller pottery was on display at the Smithsonian Institute. Queen Elizabeth II and Former President of the United States Bill Clinton each own a piece of Felicia Fragua’s Storyteller pottery.

Carol G. Lucero Gachupin

Carol G. Lucero Gachupin (b. 1958) is a well-known Jemez Pueblo potter who learned the art from her mother, Margaret Lucero, and acclaimed pottery artist Marie Romero.

Carol uses traditional pottery methods passed down through generations, first making her own natural clay and pigments, then molding and painting her figures by hand, and finally firing outdoors. 

Inspired by memories of her grandfather telling stories around the fire and dinner table, Carol specializes in storyteller figures, and is known for the incredible level of detail and sophisticated painting in her figurines.

Wilfred Garcia, Jr. 

Wilfred Garcia, Jr., was born in 1954 on the Acoma Pueblo. He was inspired to learn the art of working with clay from his mother-in-law, the late Stella Shutiva.
Wilfred has established himself as a fine contemporary pottery artisan.

Wilfred creates fine pottery in many forms, from clay he gathers and processes himself on Acoma land. Some of the types of vessels he creates include: seedpots, vases, and Mesa Verde motif vases with ladders. He signs his pottery as: WGarcia, Acoma.

Wilfred states: "Making pottery for over 12 years has given me joy and love for my art. I take my time with every piece that I construct so that each piece is special". He is related to: Jackie Histia-Shutiva (sister-in-law) and Sandra Garcia (spouse).

Pottery Artists

• Last Name I - P
• Last Name Q - Z